Stories by Katie Lannan

Progressives, business likely to clash if questions make ballot

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TWENTY-ONE INITIATIVE PETITIONS, including proposals to raise the minimum wage and lower the sales tax, are one step closer to appearing before voters after clearing Attorney General Maura Healey’s eligibility review. Healey on Wednesday released a full list of initiative petitions that met constitutional requirements and were certified to move ahead in the(...)

One lawmaker, citing sluggish revenues, calls idea 'colossal mistake'

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Gov. Charlie Baker is mounting a late bid to return the popular sales tax holiday this year, formally asking lawmakers who have already begun their summer break to approve a proposal to hold the tax-free weekend in just 17 days. The governor’s plan received an underwhelming reaction from legislative leaders, with(...)

'I worry terribly about the consequences,' governor says

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER signed a law on Friday overhauling the marijuana legalization measure voters put on the books in November, and immediately afterward offered a cautious outlook on the future of the cannabis industry in Massachusetts. “I don’t support this,” Baker said after signing the law in his office, shortly past(...)

Administration officials find tough going at legislative hearing

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE BAKER ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS on Tuesday urged lawmakers to get on board with reforms to rein in costs at MassHealth, but the House is poised on Wednesday to create a showdown with the governor by sending him back a $200 million package of new employer assessments and unemployment insurance rate relief without(...)

Advocates make their case to lawmakers

STATE HOUSE NEWS FOR MONTHS, CRIMINAL justice advocates have said this legislative session is the time for Beacon Hill to tackle sweeping reforms aimed at reducing recidivism and incarceration rates, and Monday afternoon gave them the opportunity to make their case straight to lawmakers. The Judiciary Committee packed 96 bills dealing with criminal procedure onto(...)

34 arrested, and at least 10 were in the country illegally

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THIRTY PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED Tuesday on gun, drug, and immigration charges in a sweep that brought down a Lawrence-based network that Acting US Attorney William Weinreb described as “one of the largest fentanyl trafficking organizations ever seen in Massachusetts.” Approximately 250 law enforcement officers were involved in the sweep, seizing several(...)

Joins Vermont governor on letter to Trump administration

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Students had prepared Wednesday to attempt to persuade Gov. Charlie Baker to speak out in support of the Paris climate change agreement. Instead, they ended up visiting his office to thank him for his support. Representatives from youth climate groups had announced plans on Tuesday to visit the State House to(...)

Weak collections so far spread concern, trigger search for new taxes

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS Committee members on Tuesday unanimously approved a $40.3 billion spending plan for fiscal 2018 that they said recognizes the state does not have as much revenue as it needs to pay for desired programs and service. With approximately $400 million in new revenues proposed, the budget tries(...)

Draft plan calls for rate floor for community hospitals

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AFTER SIX MONTHS OF SEEKING WAYS to address the variation in prices charged by Massachusetts medical providers, officials plan to recommend a host of solutions including a rate floor for lower-paid community hospitals, regulation of rate growth, and protections against out-of-network charges, according to a draft proposal. The recommendations are made(...)

State report projects increase by as much as 24% over 2015

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING from opioid overdoses in Massachusetts each year continues to climb, according to a new state report projecting an estimated increase of between 13 and 24 percent from 2015 to 2016. A total of 1,465 people died of unintentional opioid overdoses in 2016, with another 469 to(...)